Warrant vacated for former cop’s arrest

AMHERST – A former Springhill cop had a warrant for his arrest vacated Tuesday morning.

Defence counsel Jim O’Neil appeared in provincial court on behalf of his client, Joshua Wilfred Demers.

O’Neil requested the warrant be vacated. The request was granted.

It was issued Monday after neither Demers nor O’Neil appeared before a judge for election and plea to a number of charges, and to be held until the next scheduled appearance date, April 11.

Demers is charged with one count each of theft of gas and theft of seized contraband from the main exhibit locker room at the Springhill Police Service, obstructing justice by tampering with evidence bags and breach of trust as a peace officer.

He’s also been charged with four counts of possession of marijuana.

He has yet to enter pleas to the charges, as O’Neil said in a late-February appearance that he was waiting on additional disclosure.

Monday was also the first court appearance for Demers on two more drug charges – one each of possession of cannabis resin and cocaine.

All the incidents are alleged to have occurred between Aug. 22, 2010, and Jan. 22, 2011.